The intense yin energy had already made Ji Yuan uncomfortable, but he also noticed that at least two Yin Chas had remained positioned in front of him the entire time. They were likely deliberately shielding him, a mortal, from a considerable portion of the yin energy's impact.
At this moment, the four great City God Subordinates in the courtyard unleashed their power. Apart from the nine Soul Hook Emissaries controlling the Soul Binding Locks, most of the other Yin Chas were holding formation and awaiting orders.
Calling it a battle, in Ji Yuan's eyes, was simply that terrifying ghost creature being bound in midair by the Soul Binding Locks and beaten senseless. Yes, literally hanging there while being beaten.
Whenever the Judge's Brush, Soul Striking Whip, and other artifacts struck the ghost creature, they would trigger a piercing shriek and whittle away part of its killing intent.
This was not the first time Ji Yuan had entertained all sorts of speculations and doubts about his own eyesight, but this time, the feeling deepened further. He could not only clearly see every Yin Cha and the ghost creature, but even the process of wave after wave of killing intent being scattered and dissipated.
As though it had truly realized it was at a critical juncture, the ghost creature bound by the Soul Binding Locks struggled more and more violently.
"Ah----"
Amid the shrill scream, countless deathly pale arms darted out and clawed at the Yin Chas around it.
Several City God Subordinates brandished their artifacts, and the courtyard filled with clashing foreign yin energies. They blocked the vast majority of the ghost claws in an instant, but six or seven Yin Chas were still caught, including three Soul Hook Emissaries.
"Clang!"
"Clang!"...
Some Yin Chas swung their blades at the ghost creature's claws in an attempt to free their companions, but the blows rang out as though metal had struck iron.
"Heh heh urgh~~~~~"
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
The ghost bodies of seven Yin Chas were directly shredded apart by the pale arms. They turned into clouds of black mist and were sucked into those ghost claws. Three Soul Binding Locks lost control and lashed about like three huge whips amid the ghost creature's struggle.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Several Yin Chas nearby were struck directly by the Soul Binding Locks. Their souls flickered unsteadily, and they were all sent flying.
"Outrageous!"
The four great Incense Power officials' eyes nearly split with rage. They leaped forward together, and four streams of yin energy carrying the scent of sandalwood incense merged above the small courtyard, intertwining into a great net.
"Caught!"
The great net fell from above, enveloping the vicious ghost creature that was almost free.
Whoosh~~~ Wail~~~~
A fierce gale sprang up in the courtyard. It was no longer merely yin energy or yin wind, but a genuine wild wind sweeping in all directions. The branches of the Large Jujube Tree swayed violently, while fallen leaves and other debris seemed unaffected by the array, flying about in chaotic disarray. Ji Yuan could only raise a hand before his face to block the dust and leaves.
At this moment, Ji Yuan's heart was filled not only with shock, but also lingering fear.
Damn it, this was the thing I dealt with just now? Good thing this bastard liked to "chew slowly and savor every bite." If it had shown this form from the start, I'd have dropped dead before I could even go all out!!
The Judge's Brush in Judge Wu's hand spun into the air as he roared.
"Drain its soul energy and ghostly strength!"
The other three City God Subordinates also activated their artifacts and attacked. The remaining Yin Chas all joined in as well, striking through the great net. The Soul Binding Locks in particular made the ghost creature shudder with every lash.
"Heh ah----"
The scream nearly pierced Ji Yuan's eardrums. The ghost creature within the great net rapidly swelled in size. Seeing that things had gone wrong, Judge Wu recalled the Judge's Brush and transformed its tip into a needle, stabbing viciously toward the center of the net.
"Break for me!"
"Bang!!!"
Yin energy and killing intent erupted, all of it pouring onto Judge Wu.
With a boom, Judge Wu was blasted away by the yin energy, and a gap instantly appeared in the great net binding the terrifying ghost creature.
"This is bad!"
"Stop it!"
The other three City God Subordinates immediately joined forces to reinforce it, but they could not make up for the gap left by Judge Wu. The ghost creature was already about to break free.
With Ju'an Pavilion's arrangements in place, this ferocious entity might not be able to escape outside and wreak havoc in Ning'an County, but the many Yin Chas within the Soul Locking Array would likely suffer disaster.
Ji Yuan did not know exactly how dire the situation was, but even as a layman, so long as he was not truly blind, he could see that things were extremely dangerous now.
Continuing to sit in the courtyard seemed rather unsafe too...
Frightened, Ji Yuan instinctively rose to his feet. He had originally intended to make a run for it, but he had not expected to trigger an unforeseen change.
The instant Ji Yuan suddenly stood up, the increasingly violent struggle of the vicious ghost creature in the courtyard came to an abrupt halt. As if severely frightened, it shrank back within the spirit net confining it.
"Good chance! Don't stand there stunned!!"
As the roar rang out, Judge Wu had already returned to his position.
The ghost creature might have acted foolishly, but the City God Subordinates and Yin Chas would not. Incense Shadows began to spread behind the Four Department Heads under the City God's command. Their figures seemed to grow slightly taller, and their official robes billowed.
Strands of gray light lit up across the great net as it contracted. The four Department Heads waved their hands, and four Soul Binding Locks each flew over. With a flick of their arms, the Soul Binding Locks transformed into four Spirit Serpents, tightly winding around the net that radiated gray light.
The peril just now had made them understand that even though this vicious ghost creature had suffered grave damage to its vitality, they could not easily take it down without paying a heavy price. At this moment, they were truly staking everything they had!
"Ethereal City God, shining with the dust as one, exorcise evil and bind demons, illuminate the eight desolations!"
From the direction of the City God Temple, streams of Incense Power like Smoke Wisps flew over and descended into Ju'an Pavilion's courtyard. The four City God Department Heads' momentum surged.
"Though my Ning'an County governs no more than ten thousand people, we still will not allow an evil entity like you to bring chaos upon us. Die!"
The Judge's Brush, Soul Striking Whip, Discipline Record, and Fortune and Longevity Robe drew upon heavenly time and earthly advantage as they launched a full-force attack at the vicious ghost creature.
"Rumble rumble..."
Within Ju'an Pavilion's courtyard, it was as though thunder had erupted...
Ji Yuan had held his breath for quite some time. In truth, if he had been timing himself with a watch, he would surely have been astonished to find that his ability to hold his breath had become so strong.
Only when the ghost creature's miserable shrieks in the courtyard grew weaker and weaker, until it finally turned to ash, did Ji Yuan slowly let out a breath.
Thank goodness, thank goodness. The side of justice won!
His legs somewhat weak, Ji Yuan sat back down on the small chair before the house. But once he had recovered slightly, he sensed that something was not right.
When he looked up, he was stunned. The array's energy in the courtyard had already vanished, while the Four Department Heads of the City God and all the Yin Chas stood in the courtyard facing him.
Ji Yuan's throat bobbed slightly. He did not even dare swallow. They were not going to kill him to silence him, were they?
After a long while, Judge Wu took the lead. The other three Department Heads and the Yin Chas all clasped their hands and bowed toward him.
"We were blind and failed to recognize a master's identity!"
"Thank you for your assistance!"
A chorus of thanks rang out.
They had previously wondered whether some master passing through had exposed the evil entity's weak point, yet they had never expected that the master had been sitting serenely in the courtyard all along. Truly, a true person did not reveal himself, and one who revealed himself was no true person!
The Four Department Heads did not say much more. Judging from the various actions of the man in the courtyard, he naturally did not wish to be disturbed. Thus, after bowing repeatedly, they led the various Yin Chas under the City God's command out of Ju'an Pavilion. They intended to first report to Lord City God, then make further decisions.
Ji Yuan likewise did not know what to say to them. He knew far too little about City Gods and such matters. After mulling it over in his head for a while without coming up with anything, he simply said nothing.
Truth be told, Ji Yuan did not want to be this master. Yet he really had severely injured this ghost creature, without any falsification. It was only natural and proper for him to accept their thanks, was it not?
Only after the small courtyard returned to tranquility, with nothing but a gentle breeze remaining, did Ji Yuan slump limply on the chair like a dead dog, rubbing the heart that had been violently startled again and again.
He raised his head and opened his weary eyes. When he looked at the water well in the courtyard now, that sinister and terrifying feeling had been swept clean away, making him feel even more at ease.
At this rate, I'd better not get scared into heart disease one day!
After calming himself for a while, Ji Yuan finally had the remaining strength to think about this and that.
For instance, what exactly had originally been in the water well? No matter how little he understood, he knew it had been anything but an ordinary Vicious Ghost. And why, despite being so close, had Ning'an County City God not personally come? There was likely another reason for that as well.